caruncle (redirected from caruncles)

ca·run·cle  (k-rngkl, krng-)

n.

1. Biology A fleshy naked outgrowth, such as a fowl's wattles.

2. Botany An outgrowth or appendage at or near the hilum of certain seeds, as of the castor-oil plant.

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[Obsolete French caruncule, from Latin caruncula, diminutive of car, flesh; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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ca·runcu·lar (-ky-lr) adj.

ca·runcu·late (-lt, -lt), ca·runcu·lated (-ltd) adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

caruncle - an outgrowth on a plant or animal such as a fowl's wattle or a protuberance near the hilum of certain seeds caruncula appendage, outgrowth, process - a natural prolongation or projection from a part of an organism either animal or plant; "a bony process" lappet, wattle - a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards